Unfamiliar (Book One: Colt and Clara's Story)

Chapter Four

Colt

Colt sat on the edge of his bed and pondered the day's events, He had fulfilled Heather's wishes and brought Clara somewhere safe. He was sure she would follow them here in a week or so to sort out what happened next. One thing was certain after seeing the state she was in he had to keep Clara hidden for now, at least until she healed.

He reached over the end of the bed and grabbed his satchel from the floor, he pulled out the journal Heather had given him and flicked through the pages until he found what he was looking for.

Clara's face stared back at him off the page the only difference was the woman in the drawing had raven black hair and her eyes were brown.

Underneath the drawing read:

Annabelle Vandran

Born 2nd of January 1684

Great Goddess and protector of Hunterscove

murdered 1703 at the hands of Domini Bellatorum

Through the blood a new sorceress will rise.

"Shit" he cursed at the picture his chest becoming tight, what did all this mean? He had heard tales from Heather of the great Annabelle she had been one of the last descendants of a Celtic goddess named Airmid who had the power to heal the sick using herbs.

Annabelle was said have taken on Airmid's powers and became a powerful white sorceress, her calming spirit magic brought peace at a turbulent and unsettled time in Hunterscove.

They had found Clara not far from there in Hunterswoods.

He read on trying to absorb all the information in front of him.

Annabelle, had settled in Hunterscove with her Wiccan father. Hunterscove is a little fishing village on the outskirts of Dublin. Annabelle and her father where accepted and loved by all the townsfolk. Some folklore stories told of how she had the power to heal the sick or give easy rest to the dying.

At eighteen She formed her bond with a powerful familiar named Daniel. Her companion took on the form of a Canis Lupus or grey wolf, the bond between Cailleach and companion was so strong they fell helplessly in love, and got married.

Around a year later she had given birth to a son who she named Nicholas, it wasn't known what form her son had taken, there was only speculation.

Her joy was to be short lived as word about Annabelle's whereabouts had travelled to a group of Holy men who called themselves Domini Bellatorum known in this age by the English translation 'The Masters Warriors'. They followed the word of the great Master called Dominus. He was believed to be an ancient warlock driven mad by the power he possessed. He had become obsessed with Annabelle's beauty and her white magic, he believed she was a gift from all the gods he worshipped and she had been sent to this world to become his bride.

He became enraged that she had given away her heart and purity to a mere companion, believing she should have given herself to someone of a higher stature because she was a descendant of a goddess.

He was her perfect match and giving away her body to anyone but him deemed her magic tarnished and weakened.

His anger and jealousy drove him insane and he became enraged shouting to anyone who would listen that she had betrayed him. He convinced all his followers that Annabelle was an abomination and her and her bloodline needed to be wiped out before she brought great harm to Hunterscove and the people there.